Pz III Austf. M

[Mackem]

Thanks Alan, but I've nicked all my tips from other people! 

Iain, PM sent re : Tread Plate

Cheers
John

[fv432]

looking good john

never used mr surfacer whats it like as easy to use?

[Mackem]

Hi Rob,

Mr Surfacer is a pretty quick and easy way to add texture. I used '500' grade as it's German rolled armour and not very rough. For Russian armour You can get '1000' and '1200' grade but it's just as easy to put on 2 coats of '500' grade.

You will need 2 brushes, a nice flat square edged brush for application, and a thickish round bristle brush to do the stippling. Evenly coat a small area with the Mr Surfacer ( around 2 square inches ) and give it about 30 seconds to dry slightly. Then stipple the area with the bristle brush trying not to get any sideways sweeps. Coat another small area and while it's drying off clean the excess off your stippling brush, and off you go again. Remember to keep cleaning the stippling brush or it will go clumpy.

Cast items like the TC's cupola, drivers vision port etc get the treatment twice.

Hope this helps
John

[BeeKay]

Nice one John, what scheme are you doing?

[Mackem]

Nice one John, what scheme are you doing?

Hi Mate,

Sorry I haven't been to the club for a while, it's all work, work, work at the minute.  >:(
I was looking forward to seeing your SU85 conversion. ( Where's the build thread )

Paint is still some way off for the Pz III I'm still working on the hull and hope to post a few progress pics today. When it's time to paint it I'm going to do this.

[Mackem]

Hi All,

Time for a small progress update on the Pz III.
I made some replacement air intake boxes from some sheet styrene. The mesh came from a rice strainer. I'll have to remember to replace that before the boss notices it's missing. 





Here they are in place, quite a nice fit.



Added the tow cable guides and clips to the rear deck.



and added the lower hangers for the schurzen.





I need to make 5 lifting eyes for the rear deck, do a few little weld seams that I've missed, and then I'll start work on the main brackets for the hull schurzen.

Cheers
John

[971wright]

Hi Mackem Just a quick point the headlights on the Ausf m are moved to the sides and there the same ones as the Tiger 1 early see photo its an N but there the same headlights ..

regards pete

[Mackem]

Thanks for pointing that out Pete. It's something I hadn't noticed even though I'm using several reference photo's to help with the build. Looks like the dremel is coming out again. 

Cheers
John

[grompix]

Hi John

Good choice for a camo scheme. I was going to use that grey/green/sand paint scheme on one of my tanks too but never got round to it. I like the tread-plates you've replaced - they look great. Just might do that for my HL PzIV.

Cheers
Chris 

[Mackem]

Hi Chris,

I'm hoping you ( or anyone else ) can help out here. I've been looking at various mounting methods for hull schurzen on the Pz III and keep coming across pictures and diagrams where the plates each have a small rectangular notch removed at either side just below the top of the plate. ( picture below )
I know that the plates are secured to the schurzen rail at this point but I'm not sure how, have you got any idea's, info, detailed pics etc?

Cheers
John